Monday, December 14, 2009

REVIEW: Creating Crochet Fabric

Take your crochet skills to the next level by exploring the fabricology of crochet. Creating Crochet Fabric: Experimenting with Hook, Yarn & Stitch isn't just another crochet project book, it’s an exploration of the craft’s creative possibilities!

Designer Dora Ohrenstein closely examines crochet’s three basic variables — hook, yarn, and stitch — and how their infinite combinations create distinctive fabrics. Dozens of swatches show which techniques will result in a structured, hardwearing fabric or a lacy one that drapes; how a yarn can either hide or show off stitch patterns; and which crochet patterns can mimic plaid or colorful African designs. Fifteen projects move readers from theory into practice.

Crochet Fabric is broken up into five main chapters: The Materials & Tools We Use, Designing Crochet Fabric, How Stitch Patterns Work, Swatching Makes Perfect and Putting It All Together. A comprehensive stitch dictionary is also included. The photographs of the swatches throughout are bright and detail oriented, allowing the reader to really see the stitches and understand the fabric created.

The patterns include shrugs, hats, jackets, shawls and scarves. My personal favorite is the Juliette Shawl. As a knitter who does not crochet, I also find the Elvira and Anna jackets absolutely stunning and fascinating! I would never have thought to crochet a jacket!

Abouth the Author: Dora Ohrenstein's designs have appeared in Interweave Crochet, knit.1, Crochet Today, The New Crochet, and Fabulous Crocheted Ponchos. Her first solo book, Crochet Insider’s Passion for Fashion, was published in 2008 by Leisure Arts. Dora is founder and editor of the webzine Crochet Insider, which features interviews with industry leaders and textile artists, book and yarn reviews, and galleries of creative crochet from designers across the globe.

CONTEST! As you know, I do not crochet.... so my loss is your gain! I'm giving away this copy of Creating Crochet Fabric to one of you! To enter, simply leave a comment here telling me when you will make the Anna jacket for me... ha ha ha, just kidding... instead let me know how long you have been crocheting and what your favorite item to crochet is (make sure to leave a means of contact if your email does not automatically attach to your comment). Deadline to enter is Monday, December 21 at midnight. Winner will be selected by random number generator.

37 comments:

Awww cool! (wow, I've been AWOL for quite some time now...sorry)I've been crocheting for some time now...lets see my G-grandmother taught me when I was 6, in fact, I have her tiny little crochet hooks in my collection....so if we do the math....um, well, it's been more that 40 years! I haven't crocheted in years, since I fell in love with knitting...but it seems to becoming popular again not just a "hippie" thing anymore! I'd love to win this book!!

I have been crocheting for 19 years. I learned how while I was pregnant with my first baby. Both of Grandmothers had tried to teach for years before that but I was never interested and then...BAM...the Hooker-Bug bit me and I have been hooked ever since.

Holy WoW! What an awesome book. I started crocheting when my mom taught me at about age 6, as a means to keep me out of her hair. She taught me to read patterns at about age 8. I have been doing it ever since, I am 23 now and recently married(=broke). I love crocheting blankets, shawls, and baby items. I prefer texture and stitch pattern over color changes to create pattern. I am AmandaLynn on Ravelry

I taught myself to crochet from a book when I was pregnant with my son, the summer of 2006. I now teach it at the local yarn shop. I like crocheting blanket squares (because knitting a blanket is so time consuming, I prefer to knit socks and sweaters) and individual blocks give little moments of that joy of finishing while working toward the bigger project.

Been crocheting steadily since 1998 when I inherited Mom's stash. I teach and design; have done wearables, but love to doodle with the hook and let the yarn and my creativity decide what it wants to be :)

I love jackets and shawls. So cool you're giving away this book.I've been crocheting since I was 8. My mom taught me. Did doilies as a teenager, yes a teenager (I was shy). I've made a ton of stuff in the last few years with the internet. I've tried knitting, I think 3 times, and just can't get it. Wish I could, I love some of the looks.

I have been crocheting for a very long time off and on over a 50 year span and would love to have a copy of this book. Love Dora Ohrenstein's patterns and her creativity. I only crochet garments now - like to do sweaters/scarves/wraps.

Been crocheting for a bit more than a year now and I'm totally lost without a hook in my hand. My favourite thing to crochet is this neckwarmer/cowl type thing....I kind've came up with the idea by myself, banged one out really, quickly, then looked online and found out other people had been making them for ages! Ah well....there are much more fancy patterns available online, but I find mine so useful (takes up way less room in a handbag than a scarf) and they're so quick to make, and take hardly any yarn (great for using up lone balls you have left) that I've been sticking with my original. All my sisters are getting one this year.

What a neat looking book! I've been crocheting for about three years and I love to make all kinds of things, but mostly small projects. I've been designing my own toys lately, so that is my favorite thing to crochet right now.

Ooo, that looks like some pretty stuff there Nichole. I've been a crocheter since I was 8. Let's see...that would be 45 yrs, egads! Throw me in the pile for prizes please...and give your pooches some pets for me. xxxooo

Hi! This was a nice review- I came from Ravelry, where I am carmelvineyard. I have only been crocheting since April, and so far dishcloths, flat circles for scrubbing, and bags to hold produce are my favorite things to make. :) I made my first doll clothes this weekend and they were a lot of fun too!

Nice review! I've been crocheting for about 2 years now and currently I'm obsessed with making fingerless mitts (even though its summer down here! But hey, they look so great, why not wear them all year!) I taught myself, but my late grandmother knitted and crocheted and I like feeling that I am carrying on that tradition.

Hi, and Happy Holidays! I've been crocheting for about 40 years now, and designing for about 25, although until about 2 years ago my family were the only ones to benefit from my designs.

My favorite things to design in crochet are wearables, but I love making EVERYTHING: from doilies and curtains to toys, clothes, sculpture, jewelry, afghans, shawls, wall-hangings and other art pieces, etc. If I can wrap it around a hook, chances are I'll crochet with it.

My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was a teen, made one granny square afghan, made her sew them together and then didn't crochet till my early twenties when my aunt showed me how to do a ripple afghan. Made a queen size blanket, and didn't start crocheting again until 19 years ago when I was inspired by a Barbie bridal dress and taught myself to read patterns (and relearn the basics!) I gave up all the other needlework I had been doing and have been crocheting and teaching others since then. My favorite thing to crochet is amigurumi. I love to make smiles on faces. I also enjoy doing various service projects that our local crochet group commits to.

Hi, I love the pictures of your dogs, they are awesome looking family. I have been crocheting now for 37 years. I learned in my sewing class when I was 15. We made granny squares for a school project. I fell in love with it. I just recently started crocheting clothing for myself. And I must say, I really like making something that I can wear any time not just in the winter. :) thank you for this chance to win this great book. ladycolor7 at verizon dot net.

I would love to gift this to my mom. She has been crocheting for 50 years or more. Every Christmas she makes us (8 children, 30 grandchildren and so far 25 grea- grandchildren)crocheted ornaments. This year's ornaments are penquins. My Chistmas tree is beautiful becaus of her ornaments!

You don't crochet? Well, the only thing I seem to have time for these days is crochet ;-) I have been crocheting for the past 15 years and I don't have a "favorite" other than that I like intricate patterns and stitches. I do thread and yarn, afghans, baby, accessories, thread doilies, snowflakes, sculpture. I am on my third projcet in tunisian crochet and really enjoy the fabric it creates. Thanks for this wonderful opportunity.

I've been crocheting for years and now have my third generation crocheters to teach. I would love this book as something my granddaughter and I could share. Oh yeah, it might take me some time but I could make that jacket you want. I just need to see the pattern. Maybe we could talk about a trade? I want a knit shawl that I can not make. LOL

I have been crocheting for 15 years. I learned when I fell in love with a vest pattern offered at Wal Mart free when you bought the Southmaid Worsted cotton. My favorite thing to do in Crochet is make Filet pictures.

Deffinitely put me in on the raffle for this book! In case you can't see my email addy - it's mikitta@hughes.net :)

What a beautiful book! I have been crocheting myself for 30 years (I'm not that old!) and I have taught more people to crochet than I can count, from my daughters, to their friends to classes through community programs and church.

My favorite things to crochet...so hard to decide...but for now shawls. I love to make lacy shawls from beautiful fibers with open patterns and thick toasty ones for cold evenings. Thanks so much for sharing.

I've been crocheting for 30+ years - taught by grandma as a kid. I just completed my first sweater - and it is AWESOME if I do say so myself. i'm really interested in how various stitches create drape etc.. so this book would be invaluable!

I've been crocheting since high school and I'm about to be a grandma for the first time--guess that's almost 50 years. Crochet is a family thing. My Grandmother taught me some and also crocheted my wedding dress: lucky me. The book you are offering sounds very interesting.

Contact: pamelascrafts at gmail dot com (not sure if email will post up or not)

I taught myself crochet about 18 years ago but just picked it up again last year after a long hiatus. My favorite thing to crochet are 8" squares which I mail to South Africa to be made into blankets for AIDS orphans. I try to learn a new stitch or pattern for each square I make.